More than 90 knox students dedicated part of their first Saturday of the term engaging in service projects with community partners around Galesburg.

Hosted by the Kleine Center for Community Service and the national, co-educational service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, “Explore and Engage Galesburg” marks the first of three days of service that the Kleine Center organizes each year.

“We log around 270 volunteer hours on this day, and that makes a significant impact on the the community and its local non-profit organizations,” said Madison Pierro '17, Knox’s ILCC/Americorps VISTA in the Kleine Center for Community Service.

Alik Airapetyan '19 volunteered along with the entire men’s basketball team at the Purple Hanger, a thrift store run by the Safe Harbor Family Crisis Center.

"It was a great experience. I’ve always loved doing our service projects and have loved helping the community in any way,” said Airapetyan, referring to the three service projects the basketball team completes every year.

Pierro said that the Day of Service events represent the generous culture at Knox. Several of the organizations served during “Explore and Engage” also have Knox students volunteering there long term, and it’s not uncommon for an experience on a Day of Service to inspire a Knox student to make a long-term volunteering commitment.

The nine partner organizations included Prairie Players Civic Theatre, Knox Farm, Purple Hanger, Knox Bike Shop, Discovery Depot Children’s Museum, Kiwanis Club, Galesburg Historical Society, Mound Farm, and Galesburg Civic Art Center.

"This event emphasizes the mission of Knox, which is to do more than just be involved in your major, to be engaged,” Pierro said.